Since I last wrote, my life has continued to be good here. I feel as though I am finally beginning to dig deep into the NE African city life, and I am learning so much. However, something out of the ordinary occurred recently that I wanted to share.
Let me say that before I tell this story that I am now doing well physically; I have been recovering at home and the threat of any major problems is gone.
Two weeks ago (measured from tomorrow), on a normal walk to language school with my roommates in a safer neighborhood in the city, I was attacked by a dog. He seemingly came out of nowhere and without provocation, he latched on to me. Praise God that I was with my roommates who helped me after the dog ran away. Immediately after it happened, a man who had been yelling at the dog motioned urgently for us to come over to him. He was a familiar face: a guard for a villa who dressed in the conservative clothes of the local faith, but we had never interacted before. I limped over as best as I could with my roommates helping, and he had me sit down on his stool. He left briefly and brought over water for me to drink from his own bottle and glass, which he ceremonially washed out for me three times. He then offered me water with sugar, but instead I thanked him for his help and we left. We got to school where they continued to care for me, which involved many spoonfuls of honey from my school director to, in her words, “make sure I didn’t die,” and many people checking in on me.
The end of the story is that God truly had his hand of protection over me during this time. Though this had happened to me and it was terrifying, it had happened in the best possible way. I was bitten in the best spot of the body (the words of a trusted doctor), and the owners of the dog had meticulous records of vaccinations that rivaled those of dogs back in the States. I am now recovering from some small bites and scratches that are healing quite nicely, hopefully without scars as well!
The whole day was a bit of a blur for me, but this guard that had initially helped me kept coming up in the conversation as I pieced everything together. Several people had been investigating around while I was at school to see who the dog belonged to, and also to see if I had needed additional care (meaning a big fat rabies shot, which thankfully I did not). This guard pointed the way to the house where the dog lived. As I recovered at home that afternoon and the next day, he waited in the street every morning for my two roommates both together and separately as they walked, asking if they were okay and if I was doing alright. He made a point to step out of his way to check in with us.
I wanted to walk to see him when I was finally ready to go back to school, even if it meant going by the house where the dog lived. I had some sweets for the guard as a gift, and was armed with the cultural process for how to give it to him. He didn’t speak much English, but he was armed with some of my language just as much as I was armed with his. He was waiting for us in the street, and stood near his post to wait for us as we walked up. I went up to him, and he asked in my language if I was fine. When I responded in the local language, he proceeded in English. I was wearing sunglasses so I was able to look him in the eye (which is normally not culturally appropriate here), and see his compassion and kindness for me. I was able to communicate how much I appreciated his kindness, and how much joy it brought me to see him every day on my walk. He refused my gift, putting his hand over his heart and saying thank you, as if to say that his gift was doing his job in helping me and seeing that I was alright. We still see him on our walk when we go to school, but now it is accompanied by a shorter greeting.
Gender relations here are confusing enough for an American woman living here, so to see a conservative man of the local faith act in this way toward me was initially disarming, as was experiencing his compassion towards me, which was definitely out of the ordinary. I know that God intended for me to see that so that I can pray for him to see God clearly. I am still unsure of the purpose of the bite, but as I have processed this I have learned and experienced some new things. Because this happened, so many doors were opened for me to see into the lives of people that I would not normally have been able to without this situation. This has included new friendships and more depth in relationships that I have already had. It has also given me new depth in prayer, especially for this guard, who I am not able to go deeper in conversation with because of cultural appropriateness. Though I have known internally that God uses suffering to further his kingdom, this fact of the upside-down nature of God has been made infinitely clear to me as I have navigated this. God has not stopped being good even though life is hard, even if I am stuck at home recovering (extrovert’s nightmare, but God’s fortress for me during this time), even if I hurt physically, and he will never stop, even if I don’t feel like he is who he says he is. He is the source of life and all goodness, and loves us abundantly as a result, and I cling to that goodness.
The biggest encouragement for me during this time has been found in the Psalms. Here is Psalm 59:14-17 (ESV). Note that David uses “they” to reference his enemies:
“Each evening they come back, howling like dogs and prowling about the city.
They wander about for food and growl if they do not get their fill
But I will sing of your strength;
I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.
For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress.
O my Strength, I will sing praises to you,
For you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love.”
God is our rock and our refuge, a fortress that cannot be shaken even in times of trouble. Nothing on this earth has the power to take what God has given us freely, and as I have navigated this, I am so thankful that He has been my immovable rock, even as life and my emotions have been torrential waves around me.
Like I said before, I am still not entirely sure of the purpose of this time, but I do feel compelled to pray for the people involved. Would you join me in prayer for the light of the knowledge of the glory of Christ to be shown to this guard who showed compassion towards me, for the family who this dog belongs to, for my school staff, and for my continued recovery? Thanks in advance!